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The World Bank and Crimes of Globalization: A Case Study

The Friedrichs’ case history of a World Bank-financed dam in Thailand addresses whether the policies and practices of an international financial institution can be characterized as a form of crime and whether the “crimes of globalization” need to receive special attention. The authors review charges of World Bank complicity in harmful policies: those with genocidal consequences, that exacerbate ethnic conflict and the gap between rich and poor, that foster immense ecological and environmental damage, or displace indigenous people in developing countries without adequate (or extremely insensitive) resettlement plans. The article assesses the role of activist protest and engagement, as well as that of human rights law, in countering such practices.

social movements, World Bank, crimes of globalization, social movements, international law, criminology, dams — Thailand — environmental aspects, globalization — anti-globalization movement, globalization — economic aspects

Citation: Social Justice Vol. 29, Nos. 1-2 (2002): 13-36